Leadership: Our Coordinators
Our coordinators are successful undergraduate students from the same social class as our beneficiaries. They lead and implement specific initiatives within the Center designed to enhance students’ academic and personal development.
Edith Lopéz Nicolas, Gender Equity
Edith was born in Santa Catarina Tícua, a village near Tlaxiaco. She grew up in a bilingual family (Mixteco-Spanish). Through a three-year scholarship for indigenous women (“Guadalupe Musalem”) she completed high school in a nearby town and went on to complete a degree in psychology at the Universidad del Golfo in the capital. While an undergraduate student she joined the Learning Center as a tutor. In 2010 after graduation she began to provide counseling and psychological support to our students. In addition to her position at the Center she has been employed at the Institute for Oaxacan Women in its Clinic of Alternative Therapies, counseling female victims of domestic violence. In 2015, she was named coordinator of Gender Equity at the Center and is now preparing a proposal for training in mainstream gender equity activities. Edith´s email is: jovenes.iiac@gmail.com. 
Jauri Sánchez Cruz, Student Support and Development of New Projects
Jauri completed a law degree at the Universidad Vasconcelos in 2014 while receiving a stipend as a coordinator at the Center. He presently works with senior leadership to design and develop new social projects as part of our sustainability plan. He also oversees the program providing support to needy but otherwise highly motivated students. Presently six junior and senior high school students receive a stipend and spend fifteen hours weekly at the Center in supervised study. Jauri provides orientation to all our students regarding both vocational and academic opportunities. As TOLC beneficiaries complete high school, our leadership training activities prepare those who wish to continue in the Center to take on more responsibility as coordinators. Jauri´s email is: grupodeestudiantes.iiac@gmail.com. 
Karen Lizette Garcia
Karen Lizette is twenty-three years old and coordinator of the tutoring team. She is studying food technology engineering at the Technology University of the Central Valleys of Oaxaca, located in San Pablo, Huixtepec, Zimatlan. “I studied for three years, but because of family and economic reasons after my father left, I had to drop out of school and work to help my mother with expenses. Now I live with my mother and brother in our own home. We both have been able to continue our studies, thanks to our mother who was a primary school teacher. During my three years as part of the tutoring staff, I have learned so many things, both intellectually and morally. I have become more self-confident in my interaction with others, and my academic self-assurance has developed and improved. Most important, I have learned to listen to and better understand those around me. The Learning Center is my second home because I know the true worth of friendship. To come here and share, to be able to help others like me, makes you grow as a person.” |
Manuel Jesús Velasco, English Classes, Tutoring and “Intercambios”
Jesus was born and raised in the capital and lives with his parents and three siblings. Always an outstanding student, he is presently studying chemical engineering at the Technological Institute of Oaxaca. He entered the Center as a student, took our basic English classes and received a TOLC scholarship to complete second langauge studies at the Cambridge School in Oaxaca. Later he became a math and chemistry tutor at the Center. In 2015, he was named Coordinator for English. His command of English, outgoing personality and enthusiasm for the Center´s mission make him an ideal person for working with both students and volunteers who participate in “intercambios” (hour-long sessions that enable English speakers to practice their Spanish and our students to enhance their abilities in English). Anyone interested in volunteering for English activities should contact him at: ingles.iiac@gmail.com. 
Fernando Santos Valencia, Counseling and Psychological Support
Born in the capital, Fernando is an only child whose parents invested their financial resources in his education. He was able to attend bilingual schools and then the La Salle University campus in Oaxaca where he participated in sports, especially swimming, competing in meets at a national and international level. He majored in psychology and completed clinical training in a public hospital. In 2014 he spent a semester at the Learning Center assisting and apprenticing with our psychologist as part of our formal exchange agreement with La Salle University. In late 2015 he was named to replace her. In addition to Fernando, two volunteer psychologists are available to students who need intensive therapy. Fernando´s email is: psicologia.iiac@gmail 
Walter Francisco Martinez, Publicity Coordinator
Walter is completing the undergraduate program in Computer Systems at the Technological Institute of Oaxaca. In January of 2013, he was invited by the Learning Center director to become the Center’s publicity coordinator. For students, volunteers and financial supporters Walter provides information on the Center’s objectives and activities. He documents and publicizes the Center’s activities. Besides designing posters, flyers and photographing Center activities, Walter is in charge of a bimonthly bulletin in Spanish. He also keeps our monthly records of activities, maintains the Spanish webpage, the students’ Facebook page, and creates public announcements. Walter’s email is: difusion.iiac@gmail.com. |